The Los Angeles Angels closed a difficult season with a 7-3 defeat to the Seattle Mariners, marking their first-ever 100-loss season. This milestone places the Angels among all other MLB franchises that have suffered triple-digit losses.
On Sunday, with a loss to Seattle at T-Mobile Park, the Angels ended a 65-year streak of avoiding 100 losses, entering a new chapter in their history. New manager Kurt Suzuki led the team through a challenging campaign that fell short of the previous 63-99 record set by Ron Washington’s 2024 squad.
The final game was filled with tension. Star player Mike Trout watched from the sidelines as young teammates attempted to dodge the grim milestone. Shortstop Zach Neto had expressed confidence earlier, hoping the team’s determination could prevent history from repeating its grim predictions. However, a final stretch of 5-4 in the last nine games couldn’t save them from a tough loss on Sunday.
Yusei Kikuchi, a former Mariner, struggled against his old team, giving up three runs over five innings. Although Bryce Teodosio’s sacrifice fly narrowed the score to 3-1 in the sixth inning, Seattle’s subsequent plays, including a throwing error and Randy Arozarena’s double, expanded their lead beyond reach. A late home run by Jose Siri wasn’t enough to revive the Angels. The season ended when Dominic Canzone caught a fly ball from Christian Moore.
Following the firing of GM Perry Minasian in June, interim GM John Mozeliak made significant changes, trading away players like Taylor Ward, Jo Adell, Logan O’Hoppe, and Chase Silseth for prospects. Manager Suzuki was left to work with a youthful core.
Despite hitting rock bottom, there is hope on the horizon. Arte Moreno’s era concluded with a sale agreement transferring control to Stan Kroenke’s group for $4 billion. Kroenke, known for building championship teams across sports, offers the Angels’ fanbase, which is enduring its lowest historical point, some optimism for the future.
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